Trump petition pushes ESPN to show national anthem for NFL games

In an email to supporters, President Trump denounced ESPN's decision to not show the national anthem as a 'spineless surrender to the politically correct liberal mob.'

Author:
Steve Gardner, USA TODAY

Published:
3:12 AM CDT August 23, 2018

Updated:
4:00 AM CDT August 23, 2018

President Donald Trump is going a different direction in his fight with the NFL over player protests during the national anthem.

Trump is now pressuring ESPN to televise the anthem during its Monday Night Football broadcasts this season. He announced Wednesday he has started a petition to get the network to show The Star Spangled Banner.

In an email to supporters announcing the petition, Trump called ESPN's decision "spineless."

"If 'America' is too offensive for anyone in our country, then what are they doing in America?" Trump wrote.

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro told reporters last week the network has not aired the national anthem live during its Monday night broadcasts in the past and does not plan to change in 2018 — although he added plans could be altered based on newsworthiness.

In his email, Trump denounced ESPN's decision as a "spineless surrender to the politically correct liberal mob."